Parkinson 06 (Caroline, health reporter, BBC News, “Bird Flu: Is it still a threat?” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6159600.stm)
Winter is the time of year when people's thoughts turn to flu. But this time last year, it wasn't the usual seasonal flu which was occupying the thoughts of doctors, the media and the public - it was bird flu. Twelve months on, how have things changed? Are we still at risk? And are we any better placed to fight the deadly H5N1 virus? The H5N1 virus is still around. But experts say it has been largely "dormant" in recent months. Europe has seen no cases since the outbreak in Turkey, nor has Africa been hit by any major outbreaks since the beginning of the year. In South-East Asia, where most cases of bird flu are seen both in animals and humans, there have been no cases in Vietnam this year, whereas it was previously a hot-spot for bird flu.
No threat of bird flu in South Africa
BuaNews 06 (allAfrica.com, February 10, “South Africa: No Threat of Bird Flu, Says Health Dept,” http://allafrica.com/stories/200602100696.html) The Department of Health says there is no immediate threat of bird flu in South Africa. Spokesperson Solly Mabotha said the department was constantly monitoring global health developments and had taken note of the recent confirmation of H5N1 avian influenza in domestic birds in Nigeria. "The department wishes to emphasise that the recent development, although in our continent, should not be a cause for panic, as it poses no health risk to the South African population," he said. Mr Mabotha said South Africa's animal health surveillance and monitoring system was commendable and had been confirmed by the World Organisation of Animal Health (IOE) that recently declared the country avian flu free. To date no cases of bird flu caused by the H5N1 strain have been reported in South Africa.
Virus shows no sign of potential mutation
Parkinson 06 (Caroline, health reporter, BBC News, “Bird Flu: Is it still a threat?” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6159600.stm)
The fear is that the H5N1 virus will combine with a human flu virus and mutate into a pandemic strain which could spread easily between people. There have been no indications over the last 12 months that this is any closer. But the virus has not gone away. It has changed, as all viruses do. And there have been cases, such as a cluster in Indonesia, where family members have contracted bird flu. But, importantly, it was H5N1 they caught, and not a mutated strain. Dr Hay said: "There is some evidence of variation in the strain, but there is no evidence the virus has an increased capacity to spread. We haven't seen any change."
Threat of bird flu decreasing globally
Parkinson 06 (Caroline, health reporter, BBC News, “Bird Flu: Is it still a threat?” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6159600.stm)Winter is the time of year when people's thoughts turn to flu. But this time last year, it wasn't the usual seasonal flu which was occupying the thoughts of doctors, the media and the public - it was bird flu. Twelve months on, how have things changed? Are we still at risk? And are we any better placed to fight the deadly H5N1 virus? The H5N1 virus is still around. But experts say it has been largely "dormant" in recent months. Europe has seen no cases since the outbreak in Turkey, nor has Africa been hit by any major outbreaks since the beginning of the year. In South-East Asia, where most cases of bird flu are seen both in animals and humans, there have been no cases in Vietnam this year, whereas it was previously a hot-spot for bird flu.
No threat of bird flu in South Africa
BuaNews 06 (allAfrica.com, February 10, “South Africa: No Threat of Bird Flu, Says Health Dept,” http://allafrica.com/stories/200602100696.html)The Department of Health says there is no immediate threat of bird flu in South Africa. Spokesperson Solly Mabotha said the department was constantly monitoring global health developments and had taken note of the recent confirmation of H5N1 avian influenza in domestic birds in Nigeria. "The department wishes to emphasise that the recent development, although in our continent, should not be a cause for panic, as it poses no health risk to the South African population," he said. Mr Mabotha said South Africa's animal health surveillance and monitoring system was commendable and had been confirmed by the World Organisation of Animal Health (IOE) that recently declared the country avian flu free. To date no cases of bird flu caused by the H5N1 strain have been reported in South Africa.
Virus shows no sign of potential mutation
Parkinson 06 (Caroline, health reporter, BBC News, “Bird Flu: Is it still a threat?” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6159600.stm)The fear is that the H5N1 virus will combine with a human flu virus and mutate into a pandemic strain which could spread easily between people. There have been no indications over the last 12 months that this is any closer. But the virus has not gone away. It has changed, as all viruses do. And there have been cases, such as a cluster in Indonesia, where family members have contracted bird flu. But, importantly, it was H5N1 they caught, and not a mutated strain. Dr Hay said: "There is some evidence of variation in the strain, but there is no evidence the virus has an increased capacity to spread. We haven't seen any change."